Automatic metal treating machine



Aug. 8, 1944. A. SZABO, JR 2,355,249v

AUTOMATIC METAL TREATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19,-1940 7 Sheets-Sheet lAIYIMEIV $2,450, Je.

I Ilforney Inventor 1944- A. SZABO, JR 2,355,249

AUTOMATIC METAL TREATING MACHINE I Filed Sept. J 9, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet2 In ventor A i forney Aug.8,1944. .A..SZABQ,IJR 2,355,249

AUTOMATIC METAL TREATING MACHINE Filed 'S'ept. 19, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet3 Amp/95W $2 450, Mk

293. By 9g nuentor A fiomey 1944- I I A. SZABO, JR 2,355,249

AUTOMATIC METAL TREATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 4Inventor if v 36 1 ,A/vmm $2 450, JR

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A itorn'ey Aug. 8, 1944. v A. szABo, ..!R 2,355,249

AUTOMATIC METAL TREATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1940 7 Slieets-Sheet 5IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Inventor I I Ava/MW 1,450, ,7; By, 24 am 2;

.4 ftomey Aug. 8, 1944- A. SZABO, JR

AUTOMATIC METAL TREATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 6Jk v A tiome y Aug. 8, 1944. A. SZABO, JR

AUTOMATIC METAL TREATING MACHINE 7 SheetsQSheet '7 Filed Sept. 19, 1940In ventor A ttorncy 2 A 2 mm Patented Aug. 8, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE AUTOMATIC METAL TREATING MACHINE Andrew Szabo, Jr., Lorain, OhioApplication September. 19, 1940, Serial No. 357,469

Claims. (Cl. 198-211) This invention relates to an automatic metaltreating machine especially adapted for galvanizing tubular metallicstock, pipe couplings, unions and other metallic fittings, and has forthe primary object the provision of a device of this character whichwill carry the metallic stock or parts "first through a galvanizingsolution and then through a fixing solution and finally delivering thestock or parts ready for handling to store or for shipment.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means for dippingeach part in the different baths for aspecified length of time, being soarranged that the parts are subject to the baths both exteriorly andinteriorly if of hollow formation and at the same time permitting airwhich may be trapped therein to escape whereby the coating will be freeof air bubbles which may tend to form defects in the coatingorgalvanized finish of said parts.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had tothe. following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is an end elevation partly broken away illustrating an automatic metaltreating machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view illustrating the same.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view illustrating one part of themachine constructed to treat metallic stock and the like with agalvanizing bath and showing a portion of the other part of the machinefor subjecting the metallic part to an aflixing bath.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View illustrating the part of themachine for affixing the metallic parts or stock.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan View illustrating track or guide elementsfor the metallic stock or parts as they move through the baths.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing one of the guides.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary view showing one of the rotatable dippingdiscs or elements.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a part of one ofthe dipping discs and a portion of the feed means associated therewith.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary top plan view partly;

all)

in section illustrating one of the clipping discs and the ejector armstherefor.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary edge view illustrating one of the dippingdiscs and the ejector arms associated therewith.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating one of the clippingdiscs equipped to handle small parts.

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view showing one of the clippingdiscs equipped for handling small parts and further illustrating thefeed and discharge means for the small parts.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the dipping discsequipped for handling small partsand showing the ejecting means for saidsmall parts from the clipping discs.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of the dipping discs equippedfor the handling of small parts and showing associated therewith pusherelements.

Figure 15 is a perspective view illustrating one of the pusher elements.

Figure 16 is plan view illustrating a modified form of guide element;

Figure 17 is a top plan view illustrating side guide elements for aconveyor.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section,illustrating a modified form of feed means specially constructed forfeeding small parts of shapes that will not roll by gravity.

Figure 19 is a fragmentary end elevation partly in section illustrating'a typ of ejecting means usedon the part of the machine which subjectsthe parts or stock to the affixing bath.

Figure 20 is a view similar to Figure 19 showing another form ofejecting means for the parts or stock from the machine which gives theaffixing bath.

' Referring in detail to the drawings, the numerals 5 and 6 indicateskeleton frame constructions preferably set at differentelevations.Located in said frame constructions are tanks 1. The tank 1 in the frame5'has therein a suitable galvanizing solution while the tank in theframe 6 has therein a suitable affixing solution. The solution in thtank of the frame 5 is heated to a desired temperature by some suitablemeans (not shown) and which forms-no part of this invention while thesolution in the tank 1 of the frame 6 is cooled by some suitable means(not shown).

Power driven shafts 8' are'journaled in the frames 5 and 6 and extendendwise of the tanks 1 and have secured thereon dipping discs 9, anynumber of which may be employed, and each has formed in the peripherythereof a plurality of notches or pockets I in which is receivedmetallic stock or parts for carrying them by a dipping operation throughthe solution of the tanks and which will be hereinafter more fullydescribed.

Said notches or pockets Ill, it will be noted, are preferably Y-shapedand ar provided with a discharge throat, a trailing flat side, and anopposite or trailing side having an inwardly inclined generallyfoot-shaped tooth with the toe thereof extending towards the middle ofthe throat, which sides preferably curve at their inner end portionstoward the narrow slot portion of each said pocket. Arcuately shapedguide elements H are mounted in the tanks directly in alignment with thedipping discs to prevent the stock or parts from moving out of thepockets during the dipping operation. It is preferable that the arcuateshaped members I! have DOT-a tions thereof of serpentine formation, asshown at E2, the purpose of which .is Ito assist in preventing smallparts fromfallingfiout :0f the pockets during the dipping operation.Also thearcuate shaped guide elements 'I I may be shaped, as

shown in Figure 16, which besides having'thesera pentine shaped portionsI2 also may have fill-in strips l3 arranged betweenthe bends of theserpentine parts. This construction will assure against small partsfalling out :of the pockets of the dipping discs.

A roller type conveyor construction, indicated by the character M, isarranged :at, the front of the frame 5 for the purposeof feeding one ata time into the pockets of the dipping discs of the tanks .1 irregularorwodd shaped-parts that will not roll or move by gravityiandto assistinmoving the parts from the roller type conveyor plungers l5 areemployedand are best shown in Figure .18 operated by cams l6 secured ona shaft ll journaled in a bracket 19 carried by the conveyorconstruction. The plungers are spring infiuenced to maintain theminriding contact with the cams l6 and also are timed'to shove the *partsinto the pockets of the dippingsdiscs-as said pockets move oppositeto'the top face "of the conveyor construction, Hi. It isto be understoodthat the conveyor construction M and plungers l5 are only employed forparts that will not move by gravity. However, when treating stockorparts that will move by gravity, it is preferable to employ onthefront 'of the frame 5 a chute 2e and operating in conjunction therewithare gates 2| whic'hare adapted'toallow the passing of a single stock orpart into each 'pocket of the dipping discs as they move opposite thedischarge end of the chute 20. The gates are pivotally mounted, as shownat 2! and are operated by cams 22 secured on shafts 23 journaled in theframes 5 and 6. The shafts 23 and H are connected to the shafts 8 of therespective frames 5 and 6 by trains of gears ,24 arranged exteriorly ofthe discharged from the dipping discs of the frame 6 and associatedtherewith is a rack 28. Also pivotally mounted on the frame 6 andoperating in conjunction with the chute 2'! is a weighted stop 2%adapted to act as a temporary check for the movement of the parts orstock over the chute so that they will not move too rapidly and besubjected to damage.

Pivotally mounted on the frames 5 and 6 are ejector arms 3| operated bythe cams 23 and kept in riding contact therewith by weighted pivotallymounted arms 33carried by the frames 5 and 6. The ejector arms 3i are soarranged that as the pockets of the dipping discs complete their travelthrough the tanks H of the frames 5 and 6 the parts will be ejectedeither onto the conveyor system 26 or onto the chute 21.

In some instances it may be desirable not to employ the ejector arms Ston the frame 6 and to employ in lieu thereof arcuately curved guide arms3t suitably mounted on the frame 6 and so associated with the dippingdiscs that the parts or stock carried by the various pockets as theyfinish passing through the affixing bath will be caused to roll or moveonto the chute 21. In other instances it may b desirable to employejectors 35, as shown in Figure 20, each of substantially hook-shape.andsecured on a shaft 36 driven by the shaft 8 of the frame 6 intimedrelation to the movement of the pockets so as to remove from the pocketsof the dipping discs of the tank of the frame ,6 the part therein anddeposit said part onto the chute 21.

In operation, it is to be understood that the.

parts are fed one at a time .into the pockets of the dipping discs ofthe frame 5 for movement through the galvanizing bath. The feed meansused depends entirely on the type of article being treated, either thechute 2% .or the conveyor construction it. As the parts move through thebath of galvanizing solution they are subject both interiorly and.exteriorly to the solution so I that all surfaces will be evenly oruniformly frames 5 and .6. it is to be understood that the gearingis ofsuch ratio thatthe cams are rotated rapidly while the dippingdiscsrotate relatively slow.

An endless conveyor system'ZB is-employed between the frames 5 and 6 forthe transfer of the stockorjparts from one tank to another. Theconveyor'system 26'is driven in any'well known manner, and is preferablydisposed at an inclination to assist the transfer of the parts or stockfrom-the dipping discs of the frame 5 to the dipping discs of the frame6.

A discharge chute 21 is connected with the frame 6 to receive thestockor parts as they are coated. When the parts complete their trip throughthe galvanizing solution the ejector arms 3! act to throw the parts ontotheconveyor system 26 whence they are fed into the pockets of thedipping discs of the frame 6 for movement through the affixing bath. Theparts besides having the galvanizing material afiixed also will becooled so that on finishing said bath the parts will be discharged ontothe chute 2! from the pockets of the dipping discs of the frame 6 byeither the ejector arms 3!, arcuately shaped guide members 34 or thehook shaped ejectors 35. The type of ejecting means employed dependsentirely on the type of article being treated.

The parts when leaving the galvanizing bath are hot and sticky andnaturally to remove such parts from the pockets of the dipping discs itis essential that'the power driven ejector arms 3% be employed.

When small parts are to be taken through the machine and given thegalvanizing and afixing baths, auxiliary discs 38 are employed in con-'pocketsat this time arepushers til having arcu-' ately curved heads inthe pockets and lugs 42 slidable in discs 38 to be engaged by theejector arms when said parts have completed their baths.

Arcuately curved guide members 43 are supported by the frames and '6for'the purpose of engaging the lugs storing them to their innermostpositions within the pockets when the pushei's are traveling with thedipping discs after" the discharge of parts therefrom so that they willbein proper posi tion to receive parts to be treated from the feedmechanisms. I

When small parts are being treated and trans ferred from one bath toanother the conveyors 4| to engage with-the parts include oppositely"extending 25 will have associated therewith side guide pla es 44 ofangle iron construction, as shown in'Figure 16, for the purpose ofguiding the small parts from one tank to the other by the conveyors 26LAlso it is to be understood that when small parts are being fed into thepockets of the dipping discs comparatively narrow chutes are employed assuggested in Figure providing that the parts are of such shape that theywill roll by gravity. Otherwise, they will be fed into the pockets; bythe mechanism l4 and the plungers or ejectors l5.

From the foregoing description taken in con nection with theaccompanying drawings, it is believed that a good conception of theconstruction and operation of this machine will be obtained and furtherit will be seen that the construction of the machine will permit rapidtreatment of the parts or stock with a uniform treatment both interiorlyand exteriorly of the parts if of hollow formation and while I hereinspecify that certain types of stock and parts are to be treated by thismachine, it is to be understood that any metallic object that is to begalvanized and the galvanized coating afiixed can be successfully andrapidly treated by the device.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction,combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a machine of the character described wherein articles are adaptedto be treated, article handling and article ejection means, a framehaving a power driven shaft journalled therein, said shaft havingsecured thereto a vertically rotatable disc having formed in theperiphery thereof a plurality of notches, each said notch beinggenerally Y-shaped, the trailing side of each said notch being providedwith a forwardly extending tooth at the throat thereof and restrictingits width, a feed mechanism associated with said disc deliveringarticles into said notches just prior to their movement to confrontingrelation to the most rearward portion of an arcuately shaped guideelement disposed closely adjacent a substantial arcuate portion of thelower most peripheral surface of said disc and in alignment therewith,ejector means pivotally mounted on said frame, said ejector means beingin riding contact with cam means secured on a second shaft journalled insaid frame, said second shaft being connected to said power driven shaftby gear means and thus driven thereby, said ejector means dischargingthe articles retained therein during continued rotation of the 42 of thepushers for l e-"- the slots 39 of the auxiliary disc at a particulardischargefpoint position adjacent the ejector means, said guide elementpreventing the articles from leaving the notches during rotation of saiddis discharge position; l v

2. In a machine of 'the character described before reaching said whereinarticles are adapted tobe treated, ar-' generally Y-shaped, the trailingside of each said notch being provided with a forwardly extend ing toothat the throat thereof and restricting its width whereupon when a feedmechanism as-'" sociated with said disc delivers articles into the saidnotches just fronting relation to the most rearward portion of theguide, said article'sare removably retained within the notch by saidtooth during continued rotation of the disc when carried thereby beyondthe most forward end of said guide, an ejector arm associated with saiddisc at the discharge-end thereof being adapted to'eject said articlesfrom the notches of the disc, auxiliary disc means adapted to belaterally mounted with respect to the said first named disc as tocooperate therewith in the lateral retention of said articles withinsaid notches, said auxiliary disc means being provided with peripheralslots of relatively lesser width than that of said notches in said firstnamed disc and each of said slots being positioned in substantiallylateral alignment with respect to each said disc notch, pusher elementsnormally seated in the yoke of said notch and having lugs extendingtherefrom, said lugs slideable in said slots in said auxiliary discmeans and engageable by said ejector means whereby articles carried insaid notches forwardly of the said pusher elements are displacedtherefrom as they approach a discharge point adjacent said ejectormeans.

3. In a machine of the character described wherein articles are adaptedto be treated, article handling means comprising a vertical rotatabledisc having a plurality of notches adjacent the periphery of said discand an arcuate article guide disposed closely adjacent to a substantialarcuate portion of the lowermost peripheral surface of the disc, thetrailing side of each said notch being provided with a forwardlyextending tooth at the throat thereof and restricting its widthwhereupon when a feed mechanism associated with said disc deliversarticles into the said notches just prior to their movement toconfronting relation to the most rearward portion of the guide, saidarticles are removably retained within the notch by said tooth duringcontinued rotation of the disc when carried thereby beyond the mostforward end of said guide, an ejector arm associated with said disc atthe discharge end thereof being adapted to eject said articles from thenotches of the disc, auxiliary disc means adapted to be laterallymounted with respect to the said first named disc as to cooperatetherewith in the lateral retention of said articles within said notches,said auxiliary disc means being provided with peripheral slots ofrelatively lesser Width than that of said notches in said first nameddisc and each of said slots bein positioned in substantially lateralalignment with respect to each said disc notch, pusher elements normallyseated in the yoke of said prior to their movement to conv notch andhaving lugs extending therefrom, said lugs slideable in said slots insaid auxiliary disc ,means and engageable by said ejector means wherebyarticles carried insaid'notches forward- 1y of the said pusher elementsare displaced therefrom as they approach a discharge point adjacent saidejector means. v

4. In a machine of the-character described wherein articles are adaptedto be treated, article handling means comprising a vertical rotatabledisc having a plurality of notches adjacent the periphery of said discand an arcuate article guide disposed closely adjacent to a substantialarcuate portion of the lowermost-peripheral surface of the disc, eachsaid notch being generally Y-shaped, the trailing side of each saidnotch'being provided witha forwardly extending tooth at the throatthereof and restricting its width whereupon when a feed mechanismassociated with said disc delivers articles into the said notches justprior to their movement to confronting relation to the most rearwardportion of the guide, said articles are removably retained within thenotch by said tooth during continued rotation of the disc when carriedthereby beyond the most forward end of said guide, said guide elementhaving portions thereof of laterally serpentine formation.

5. In a machine of the character described wherein articles are adaptedto be treated, article handling means comprising a vertical rotatabledisc having a plurality of notches adjacent the periphery of said discand an arcuate article guide disposed closely adjacent to a substantialarcuate portion of the lowermost peripheral surface of the disc, thetrailing side of each said notch being provided with a forwardlyextending tooth at the throat thereof and restricting its widthwhereupon when a feed mechanism associated with said disc deliversarticles into the said notches just .prior to their movement toconfronting relation to the most rearward portion of the guide, saidarticles are removably retained within the notch by said tooth duringcontinued rotation of the disc when carried thereby beyond the mostforward end of said guide, said guide element having portions thereof oflaterally serpentine formation.

ANDREW' SZABO, JR.

